This section provides information relating to street works being carried out by undertakers (mostly utility companies) in the highway, and local authority road works. The Government understands that street works are necessary to provide and maintain utility and transport services that we all depend on, but it is important to ensure that these works are carried out as safely as reasonably possible while avoiding unnecessary disruption to road users.

Whilst the information on this part of the website covers the situation in England it does not aim to describe the situation in other parts of the United Kingdom. In Great Britain, street works policy has been a devolved issue since July 1999, for which responsibility in Scotland and Wales lies with the Scottish Executive and the National Assembly for Wales respectively. The separate but parallel legislation in Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Road Service Headquarters, Department for Regional Development.

The Government is committed to localism and empowering local authorities to make decisions, as the Government considers that they are best placed to make the right choices in their local area. Local authorities are responsible for the overall management of their road networks, for example by coordinating works on their road networks with a view to avoiding unnecessary disruption. Central government’s role is to ensure that local authorities have the right tools to tackle issues in their area, and to set minimum standards on certain issues.

The Department for Transport’s business plan commitments about street works are as follows:

• Consult on, and finalise, regulations enabling new lane rental schemes by December 2011
• End the need for government approval of individual local authorities’ permit schemes by April 2012
• Increase maximum penalty charges where works overrun their agreed period by October 2011

Guidance is available on the following topics:

• 2009 contracting out order
• Diversionary works
• Inspections of street works sites
• Lane rental
• Overrun charges
• Permit schemes for road works and street works
• Requirements for undertakers to give notice to local authorities in advance of planned works, and for authorities to co-ordinate works
• Sign, light and guard works safely (safety at street works)
• Specification: reinstatement of openings in highways
• Street works: best practice
• Street works: frequently asked questions
• Street works: qualifications: how to qualify, register and re-register
• Street works: records
• Street works: register
• Street works: useful links and information
• Technical specification: electronic noticing
• Training and accreditation of operatives and supervisors